So, it's a normal day, figure i'll go get my FD smogged, and thought, why on earth would they look at the precat because CA doesn't do cold start emissions.

So, I go to the shop (more on this later) and the guy proceeds to start looking for the precat...gets a flashlight, does a bunch of looking and says, "You don't got a precat". *gasp* "No? What's that" blah blah blah...so he continues on and does the sniffer (I should have bailed right then, but I didn't.

The sniffer completed, and my readings were:

HC: 2 (Max:130)
CO: 0 (Max:1.00)
CO2: 10.3
02: 6.5

FOR CHRISTS SAKE, MY CAR DOESN'T NEED A PRECAT!!!!!!!!

I'm so mad right now I could punch something. I'm in the SF bay area, please contact me if you know of someone around that can help out with my dilemma. PM is best.

 

Is your car an enhanced car?

 

I would say you have two options really.. try taking it to another place and hope they don't notice your DP (which shouldn't be too hard, I have gotten all kinds of stuff past them). The most feasible one seems to be swapping out your DP and putting on your precat again, or borrow someone elses.. at least that way you are pretty much guaranteed to pass.

Matt
93 SSM

 

I'm always afraid that would happen to me. If that ever happens to me, I'm gonna wrap my downpipe with exhaust wrap and keep wrapping around one area until it buldges and looks like a precat.

Just take your car to another place. I got smogged last June and took it to 3 different places. The last one over looked the "Check Engine" light and precat. My car barely passed cause of the PFC running rich.

 

check your pm

 

I'm working all kinds of angles. Thanks for the help guys. I owe you all one.

 

Sorry to hear your bad story but did u let him know that these car's ot come with a precat>lie. I went today too for inspection in NJ and I pass with no problem, All I have that is legal is the stock main cat, mindtrain downpipe and hks catback. Oh yeah check this out, One of the Inspector ask me if my car is 6sp he said that they come 6sp, I am thinking what a dumb mother ******. And also he mention that he used to work for mazda and the owner special oder an Rx7 cherry red with 6 speed. I am still thinking this guy must a ******* jackass that he think he knew about rx7. Hey NE beware of Lodi inspection station.

 

The last time i smogged (recently) the guy was looking for my egr, i said it's underneath the engine so he gave up. But he never looked under the engine for downpipe. Yes, i passed with flying colors on my rebuilt engine with only 600 miles on it. These guys thought my car was a miata. He asked me twice! (LOL), I said damn i should know it's an rx-7 because it's only my car and ****. He got smart and ran it as a rotary like it should be ran under. Good luck finding another smog station that'll hook you up or is dumb enough to overlook some visual mods.

 

I had an idea of welding the sliencer of a MP on to the DP to make it look lika a pre-cat (too costly though). Another idea is Jet Hot coat in black, so it's not noticed.

Most people think a rotary engine is an Alien Spacecraft, you hit the bad luck lottery with that guy.

When I took my MR2 to CHP to enter CA, he opened the front trunk and scratched his head. I told him it was in the back, so he opened the back trunk.

Anyhow, now that they are linked by computer (at least CA is) going to another station might show his notes. You may have to put on a precat just for smog.

Try a smog only station. The smog & fix are looking for something wrong to make money. You may also try a small asian town where they don't speak english well.

 

I have a gutted precat for sale $60 + S&H

 

Dude I told you where to go...

I have a feeling Denny PM'd you the same place...

 

Go to XXXXXXXX_XXXXXX. They will pass DP no problem, $35 including the certificate. 408-733-XXXX

 

I had the same MR2 problem here in WI, like the guy is going to be able to follow my emissions control diag, when he doesn't even know where the engine is..

But on another note, will the car pass without the PCV, EGR and ACV (with block off plates?)

Dan

 

how often you need smog in CA?

 

Need smog every 2 years here

 

Thanks for the info, but I don't think it should be displayed to the general public. Perhaps a moderator can take care of this....

 

Every two years? Fock.... we need it every frikkin year here in GA.. argh..
OK maybe Cali wasn't so bad after all...
*sings* " I'm goin back to Cali.. cali.. cali.."

-Kib

 

I just put on less than 5K miles per year and I'm exempt. I have to pay for an emissions sticker and the safety inspection and I'm out of there. Good not to daily drive it in my case.

 

You have to have smog checked in Ga every year?? Ive been living here like most of my life and we have never had 2 have it checked...Maybe my parents just know some people...Who knows..

 

I love New York! Hmm well maybe not, when I need to get inspected (each year) we don't have smog checks here, but how can they not smell 3" straight pipe?
Last time the looked under the hood and told me my IC was the biggest radiator they have ever seen. LOL
2 Minutes later I'm done and I've passed.

 

Cali may have smog every two years, but at least we don't have ugly state inspection stickers to put on the windshield or bumper for the cops to check while you are parked.

 

Ok all...again, thanks for the showing for support for this. I appreciate it. It still irks the hell out of me that CA looks at that stuff even if you pass the sniffer...I mean, the cats are so you CAN pass the sniffer, so if you pass the sniffer, the visual should come second because you've already proven you're sparing the environment. Damned hippies.

Anyway, I went and got it done today and everything's right with my FD again. Now I can install the PFC and think about other things I'd like to do to the car

 

Hehe, I don't have Smog/emmissions testing where I'm at hehehe

I can run Straight Pipes if I wanted too =] orr sorry Straigh Pipe hehehe

 

Maybe, but at the end of the day, you're still living in Indiana.

(BTW, I'm a Purdue alumnus.)

 

Hey guys, I need a smog hookup here in the bay area. The guy I used to go to got careless and is now on probation. Thanks.